Chapter 34: Gaining the Trust of the Druids
Abyss’s words made the Druids look around, searching for the subtle clue he had mentioned.
Their perception of him had shifted. They had initially seen him as a young, irresponsible hedonist, but after witnessing his humility and Flora’s kindness, their hostility had faded. They were now genuinely interested in discussing Druidic magic with him.
Abyss’s humility had played a small role, but Flora’s actions had been the deciding factor. Her impeccable manners and her thoughtful gesture of offering them the rare and precious Sacred Tree nectar had won them over.
Her charm, which had once captivated the entire continent, was irresistible to these reclusive Druids, most of whom had spent their lives in the wilderness, with little contact with the opposite sex.
After a while, one of the Druids nudged his companion, pointing upwards.
“What is it?” his companion asked, following his gaze, then gasped.
“Look! The sacred tree is blooming! We were summoned here to address its withering, and now it’s blooming?”
The other Druids, their attention drawn by his exclamation, looked up.
A single, jade-white flower, about the size of an adult’s hand, its six petals perfectly formed, bloomed high above them on one of the sacred tree’s branches. Even from this distance, their keen eyesight, honed by their connection to nature, could clearly see it.
“How is this possible?” they asked, staring at Abyss, who stood before them, a calm smile on his face.
Their exclamations attracted the attention of the other Druids, who hadn’t joined their gathering. They peered out of their treehouses, their faces filled with astonishment.
“This can’t be a coincidence, can it? Did you use some other magic, and the sacred tree just happened to bloom at the same time?” one of the Druids asked, his voice skeptical. “If you can solve the sacred tree’s problem on your own, why did the council summon us? Just to hunt those magical animals?”
“Masters, that flower bloomed because of my magic,” Abyss said, silencing the crowd. “This is one of my abilities. I can stimulate plant growth and induce blooming without harming them. It’s not a very creative spell. One of you demonstrated a similar ability earlier. But making the sacred tree bloom… that’s perhaps a unique skill. I hope you don’t find my magic too simple.”
“But, but…” the skeptical Druid stammered, speechless. This was the problem that had stumped even the Druid Sages, and now this young man had solved it effortlessly?
“But don’t be too impressed,” Abyss continued. “Although I can make the sacred tree bloom—even cover it in blossoms—I can’t solve the underlying problem. It will continue to wither. We still need to find a solution.”
“I see…” the Druid said, relieved.
The others also relaxed slightly. So even this powerful Druid couldn’t completely solve the problem.
The Druids’ living quarters buzzed with excitement, their initial skepticism replaced by awe. They discussed Abyss’s power, his age, his potential as the successor to the former Grand Sage, some even speculating that Agnes was still alive and that Abyss, with his elven features, was her son.
These speculations, although mostly baseless, brought a smile to Abyss’s face. He had earned their respect. Now, they would be more receptive to his ideas.
People were more forgiving of geniuses. If an ordinary person suggested draining all the mana from the sacred tree, they would be dismissed as mad. But if a powerful mage made the same suggestion, people would consider it, searching for its hidden wisdom. Just like Rebecca’s unconventional ideas had attracted investors.
Abyss might have lost his memories, but such knowledge, ingrained in his mind, remained.
“Abyss… how did you make the sacred tree bloom?” Leona asked through their link, her voice filled with surprise.
He turned to his followers, seeing the same curiosity in Rebecca and Flora’s eyes.
“It’s quite simple, actually,” he explained. “I learned several Druidic spells from those demonstrations. I simply modified one of them, a plant growth spell, enhancing its potency and stability. The sacred tree is powerful, but it’s still a plant. The spell worked.”
“You brute-forced it with mana?” Leona asked, understanding his method.
Abyss grinned. “Exactly.”
“Clever. Now they won’t suspect you learned it just now,” Rebecca said, smiling. “It’s like a student getting an 80 on a test, another student copying and slightly modifying their answers, then getting a 99. No one would suspect the second student of cheating.”
“Are you tired?” Flora asked, approaching him. “That spell must have consumed a lot of mana.”
“It did. Almost as much as that time I broadcast Givia’s Blood Atonement ritual across the entire Ossi Kingdom,” Abyss said, nodding. “The sacred tree is truly remarkable. Agnes’s power must have been immense. If I’m not mistaken, she was a mage of my caliber…”
“Then… I haven’t finished my drink… Here,” Flora said, blushing, offering him her cup of Sacred Tree nectar. “This will help you recover your mana.”
“Thank you, Flora,” Abyss said, taking the cup and drinking it in a single gulp.
Rebecca and Leona, observing their interaction, felt a pang of something akin to jealousy. Their easy intimacy, their unspoken understanding, was almost… couple-like.
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